Sheet fastening means



p 19 3- H. K. FOOTE 2,317,047

SHEET FASTENING MEANS Filed Sept. 21, 1942 Patented Apr. 20, 1943 SHEETFASTENING MEANS Harley K. Foote, Chicago, 111., assignmto Foote a VanWie, Incorporated, Chicago, lll., a corporation Illinois ApplicationSeptember 21, i942, Serial No. 459,217 11 Claims. (Cl. 24-153) Thisinvention relates to means for fastening sheet material and a method foreffecting such fastening. More particularly this invention relates to acomposite sheet material comprising separate sheets which may befastened together in co-planar relationship by tongue members formed inone of the sheets.

One object of this invention is the provision of a sheet which is cutandscored in such a manner as to permit a second sheet to be readilyattached thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for securing twosheets together in 00- planar relationship in such a manner that theymay be rotated with respect to each other in the plane of the sheets.

A further object of this invention is to provide means including tonguesand tabs for securing two sheets together without the necessity of usingextraneous appliances.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method for securingtwo sheets together.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a composite sheetassembly which is useful for may purposes including simple cardcalculators and the like.

Further and additional objects will appear from the followingspecification, the drawing, and the appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a first sheet isprovided having a plurality of spaced tongues or tongue-like membersintegral therewith which are capable of being bent upwardly andoutwardly in order to embrace an edge of a second sheet to'which it isdesired to attach the first sheet. The integral tongue members areassociated with integral tab members or tabs which are also cut out fromthe sheet. The tabs are formed in such a manner that when the tabs arebent out of the plane of the blank sheet the corresponding tongues arelifted out of the plane of the sheet in an opposite direction. As willbe hereinafter more clearly pointed out, this feature permits thecomposite structure of this invention to be readily assembled.

In one form that this invention may take the tabs and tongues are spacedradially so that the tongue members extend outwardly from a centralpoint within th sheet. The thus extending tongue members register with acircular aperture provided in the second sheet and when the second sheethas been placed adjacentthe first sheet with the tongue membersextending through the aperture, then the tongue members are capable ofbeing brought into overlying relationship with the inner edges of thesecond sheet adjacent the aperture. Because of the fact that theaperture is preferably circular in shape and because the tongue membersabut closely against the inner edges of th second sheet containing theaperture, the second sheet, although firmly secured to the first sheet,is capable of being rotated in the plane of the sheet about an axisextending through the center of the aperture.

'If desired, an adhesive strip may be placed over the tab portions onthat side of the first sheet opposite the side adjacent to which thesecond sheet has been secured. This adhesive strip prevents the tabsfrom being bent out of the plane of the sheet and thus tends to hold thetongue members in overlying relationship with the inner edges of thesecond sheet.

The fastening means briefly described in the foregoing may be used for anumber of purposes. However, it is particularly useful for securing anapertured disk of sheet material to a sheet or card. This disk iscapableof rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane of thcardand the composite structure may be useful for form ing simple cardcalculators which may be very cheaply produced and which may be sold ordistributcd as novelties or for advertising purposes. The sheetmaterials employed in constructing the sheet assembly of this inventionmay be heavy paper-like material which is capable of being slit, cut andscored, or th assembly may be formed from sheets of plastic material,metal or other composition sheets if desired.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will nowbe had to the drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the composite sheet assembly constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a sheet or card which may be used for preparingthe composite sheet assembly shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the line 4-4 ofFig. 3, showing the tabs and tongues bent out of the plane of the sheet.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, particularly Figs. 3 and4, a sheet or card It is formed having a plurality of radially spacedtongues l2 defined by channel-shaped slits I4 formed in the sheet.Associated with each of the tongues H are a plurality of tabs 16 formedby a plurality of radially spaced slits l8 extending outwardly from acommon central point. The slits l8 are preferably of equal length andthe ends of the channel-shaped slits l4 terminate in a line extendingbetween the ends of adjacent slits l8. The sheet is scored along thelines 20 extending between the ends of the channelshaped slits l4 andthe ends of the slits 18, thus permitting the tabs 16 and the tongues l2readily to be bent out of the plane of the sheet Ill. As 10 best shownin Figs. 1 and 2, a second sheet in the form of a disk 22 is secured toone surface of the blank sheet II) by means of the tongues l2 which havebeen out of the plane of the sheet "I and extend upwardly and outwardlyand overlie the inner edge of the disk 22 adjacent a circular aperture24 positioned therein.

It will be noted that when the tabs it are bent out of the plane of theblank sheet In along the scored lines 20, the tongues l2 aresimultaneously lifted from the opposite surface of the blank sheet It,as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. Inasmuch as the scored lines20 do notextend across the base of the tongues [2, the tongues likewise have atendency to be forced back into the plane 2 of the sheet Ill when thetabs are bent back into the plane of the sheet. Accordin ly when thedisk 22 is positioned as shown in Fig. 2, the tongues [2 press tightlyagainst the inner edges of the disk, holding it firmly in place. Becauseof the fact that the aperture 24 is circular and the tongues l2 areradially spaced, the disk 22 is capable of being rotated with respect tothe sheet Ill about an axis extending through the center of the aperture24.

In order to prevent the tabs It from being pushed out of the plane ofthe sheet I!) after the disk 22 has been assembled therewith an adhesivestrip 26 is secured to the side of the sheet I. opposite that to whichthe disk 22 is against all of the tabs l6, causing them to be bent onthe opening.

downwardly, as shown best in Fig. 4. This may be done by inserting a rodthrough the opening provided when the tabs are bentback. These tabs bendalong the score lines 2' and simultaneously cause the tongues l2 to liftfrom the opposite 53 surface of the sheet. The apertured disk 22 is thenslipped on over the upstanding tongues i2 and brought into co-planarrelationship with the sheet It. (If a rod is used for simultaneouslybending all of the tabs, the apertured disk may he slipped on over therod.) The tabs It are then bent back into the plane of the sheet ll thusforcing the tongues l2 to overlie the inner edges 01 the disk 22adjacent the aperture 24. A suitable adhesive strip 26 is then placedover the 35 tabs It to lock them in position and to prevent readydisplacement of the tongues 12 from their overlying position.

It will be readily seen that the assembly of this invention may bereadily constructed and will aperture, the tongues I 2 being sopositioned as to prevent substantial bodily movement of the diskhorizontally with respect to the sheet [0. While three tongues are shownin the drawing. more may be formed and used if desired. It will beapparent that the construction of this invention may be used for anumber of purposes and it may be formed from substantially any typeof'sheet material. Structures wherein the sheet material is prepared fromheavy paper stock have been found to be completely satisfactory for mostPurposes. The sheets may be printed with suitable figures, letters, orother markings before or after assembly.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it' willbe understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limitedthereto, since many modifications may be made,

and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover anysuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention. v

I claim:

1. A composite sheet assembly comprising a first sheet having asubstantially circular opening positioned therein, a second sheet havinga plurality of radially spaced, upwardly and outwardly extending tonguesintegral therewith and formed by channel-shaped slits in said secondsheet, score lines in said second sheet extending outwardly from theends of said slits and meeting at points remote from said tongues, and aplurality of tabs defined by additional slits extend- 7 ing inwardlyfrom said meeting points of the score lines and meeting each other, saidtabs being integral with said tongu s whereby pressure exerted on saidtabs to bend them out of the plane of the second sheet along the scorelines serves also to lift the tongues out of the plane of the secondsheet in the opposite direction, said tongues registering with saidopening and overlying the inner edges of said first sheet adjacent theopening whereby said sheets are secured together and relative rotationof said sheets about the center of said opening is permitted.

2. The composite .sheet assembly recited in claim 1 wherein means isprovided for securing said tabs'within the plane of the second sheetthereby preventing disengagement of the tongues with the inner edge ofthe first sheet ad acent 3. A composite sheet assembly comprising afirst sheet, a second sheet secured thereto having a plurality of tonguemembers engaging said first sheet and overlying an edge thereof wherebysaid sheets are secured together, each f said tongue members beingformed by a channel-shaped slit in the second sheet, a plurality of tabseach associated with one of said tongue members and formed bychannel-shaped slits in said second sheet extending in a directionopposite to the slits forming the corresponding tongue members,

the ends of the tongue-member-forming slits lying between and insubstantiallya straight line with. the ends of the tab-forming slitswhereby a hinged connection of the tongue members and tabs is providedwith said second sheet along said line and whereby the tongue member maybe lifted out of the plane of said second sheet by applying pressure tothe corresponding tab member in the opposite direction in order tofacilitate attachment and detachment of said sheets.

4. The composite sheet assembly recited in claim 3 wherein said tabs areadhesively secured within b freely rotated about the center of the d skthe plane of said second sheet whereby displacetioned, radially spacedand outwardly extending tongues integral therewith formed bychannelshaped slits in said sheet, and a plurality 'of tabs eachassociated with one of said tongues and defined by channel-shaped slitsin said sheet extending in a direction opposite to the slits forming thecorresponding tongues, the ends of the tongue-forming slits lyingbetween and in substantially a straight line with the ends of adjacenttab-forming slits whereby a hinged connection of the tongues and tabs isprovided with the sheet along said line and whereby the tongue membersmay be lifted out of the plane of the sheet by bending the correspondingtabs out of the plane of the sheet in the opposite direction.

6. The sheet recited in claim wherein the sheet comprises a heavypaper-like material and wherein scores are provided along the straightline providing the hinged connection.

7. A sheet of flexible paper-like material having a plurality of tabs ina central portion thereof formed by three or more slits extendingoutwardly from a common point, and a plurality of tongues associatedwith said tabs extending in an opposite direction therefrom formed bychannel-shaped slits terminating in a line between adjacent tab-formingslits and intermediate thereof.

8. A sheet of flexible paper-like material having a plurality ofcontiguous tabs in a central portion thereof formed by three or moreslits extending outwardly from a common point, a plurality of tonguesassociated with said tabs extending in an opposite direction therefromformed by channel-shaped slits terminating on a substantially straightline between the ends of adjacent tab-forming slits and intermediatethereof, and scores on said line between the ends.

of said channel-shaped slits and said tab-forming slits.

9. A sheet of flexible paper-like material having a plurality of tabsintegral therewith and located in a central portion thereof extendingtoward a common point, and tongues also integral with said sheetassociated with each of said tabs extending in an opposite directionthereto, each of said tongues being integral with the corresponding tabso that a tongue may be lifted out of the plane of the sheet by bendingthe corresponding tab out of the plane of the sheet in the oppositedirection.

10. A composite sheet assembly comprising a first sheet, a second sheetsecured thereto having a plurality of tabs integral therewith andlocated in a central portion thereof extending toward a common point,and tongues also integral with said second sheet associated with each ofsaid tabs extending'in an opposite direction thereto, each of saidtongues engaging said first sheet and overlying an edge thereof wherebysaid sheets are secured together, each of said tongues also beingintegral with the corresponding tab so that the tongues may be liftedout of the plane of the second sheet by applying pressure to the corresponding tabs in the opposite direction whereby to facilitateattachment and detachment of said sheets.

11. A composite sheet assembly comprising a first sheet having asubstantially circular opening positioned therein, a second sheetsecured thereto having a plurality of tabs integral therewith andlocated in a central portion thereof extending toward a common point,and tongues also integral with said second sheet associated with each ofsaid tabs extending in the opposite direction thereto, each of saidtongues registering with said opening and overlying the inner edge ofsaid first sheet adjacent the opening whereby said sheets are securedtogether and relative rotation of said sheets about the center of saidopening is permitted, each of said tongues also being integral with thecorresponding tab so that the tongues may ,be lifted out of the plane ofthe second sheet by applying pressure to the corresponding tabs in theopposite direction whereby to facilitate attachment and detachment ofsaid sheets.

HARLEY K. FOOTE.

